Eighth graders take the lead during their weekly pizza fundraiser, putting budgeting, teamwork and responsibility into action as they work to support their upcoming class trip.
If they can make it there, they’ll make it anywhere — but first, eighth graders at Sarasota’s Community Day School (CDS) have to figure out how to actually get to New York City. That means searching for flights, mapping subway routes and selling a lot of pizza.
Eighth graders at Sarasota’s Community Day School are planning their end-of-year class trip from the ground up, selecting New York City as their destination and turning the experience into a hands-on lesson in math, collaboration and real-world problem solving.
It is project-based learning in action, a teaching approach central to Community Day School’s educational philosophy.
Rather than being handed a preplanned itinerary, students are responsible for nearly every aspect of the trip. Working in small groups, they research airfare options, compare hotel pricing and study mass transit maps to determine how to navigate the city efficiently. They evaluate attractions based on cost, distance and educational value, then present their proposals to classmates for discussion and teacher approval.
As students refine their plans, they are also gaining a clearer understanding of how budgeting shapes real-world decisions and requires trade-offs.
“I am looking forward to going to Coney Island and seeing New York because my mom’s best friend is from there,” said eighth grader Alessandra Ibarra. “Planning the trip has helped me understand how budgeting works and how quickly expenses add up in a big city.”
Once students calculated the full cost of the trip they hoped to take, they turned their attention to fundraising. Using their projected budget, they worked backward to determine how much money they needed to raise and which efforts would realistically meet their goal. They compared options based on time commitment, effort and potential revenue before selecting fundraisers that matched the scale of a major city trip.
To support their ambitious goals, the group committed to higher-impact efforts such as weekly pizza sales, Hanukkah grams and running concessions at school events. Every student has a role, from setup and service to cleanup, reinforcing accountability and teamwork.
“They have to think critically about what kind of trip they want and what it will take to support it,” said Kim Ellis, middle school math teacher and trip liaison. “That means making choices, working through different opinions and learning how to compromise.”
The planning process extends beyond budgets and schedules, helping students build independence and confidence along the way. A November overnight trip to St. Augustine served as a trial run, allowing students to practice responsibility, decision-making and navigating new environments before taking on a larger experience.
“We are looking forward to making memories with our friends,” said classmates Ava Chapman and Stephanie Castaneda-Romero.
About Hershorin Schiff Community Day School – The mission of the Hershorin Schiff Community Day School, which serves 350 students in preschool through eighth grade annually, is to impact the world by creating a community where children of all faiths demonstrate integrity, academic excellence, and a desire to improve the world. Community Day offers a rigorous, project-based academic program in a diverse and vibrant learning environment rooted in the Jewish values of honesty, integrity, mutual trust, and respect. For more information, visit www.communityday.org or call (941) 552-2770.
Photo from Hershorin Community Day School